AN APPLICATION OF UDC TO MACHINE SEARCHING
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026431 |
| Pages | 208-215 |
| Date | 01 March 1967 |
| Published date | 01 March 1967 |
| Author | T.W. CALESS,D.B. KIRK |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
AN APPLICATION OF UDC TO
MACHINE SEARCHING
T. W. CALESS and D. B. KIRK†
GSA
Bibliography Project
American Geological
Institute,
Washington
The UDC as a language for machine retrieval has been tested and found
feasible using a collection of seismological literature. The system de-
veloped
is
flexible and can be adjusted to any desired level of exhaustivity
of indexing. A description is given of the technique for handling UDC
relationships, recording the input data, and searching the data file using
an IBM 1401 computer.
INTRODUCTION
THE VELA Seismic Information Analysis Center (VESIAC) at the Uni-
versity of Michigan has been collecting and organizing the international
seismological literature since early in
1961.
While manual retrieval schemes
were adequate to the needs of VESIAC in the beginning, machine retrieval
techniques were seriously considered after the library collection exceeded
10,000 reports. In selecting a machine retrieval scheme, one must be con-
cerned with being able to retrieve information based on author, corporate
author, accessions number,
etc.,
known
as
citation information. In addition,
if there is an interest in retrieval based on subject matter, then it becomes a
problem in the classification of knowledge. Classification is essentially an
exhaustive analysis of written or expressed thought which leads to hierar-
chical ordering of concepts.* For handling purposes, hierarchical ordering
or sequencing makes use of a notation. In some schemes (including the
Universal Decimal Classification), this consists of sets of cardinal numbers
with additional notational devices for showing subordinate and co-ordinate
relationships. Cardinal numbers have the advantage of being universally
understood and allow for virtually unlimited expansion. Other non-
numerical techniques are frequently used, too.
While it
is
quite common for special libraries to develop their own index-
ing schemes, seismology is an international science, and it seemed desirable
to adopt a scheme that was universal or general in nature. The Universal
Decimal Classification (UDC), an expansion of the Dewey Classification
(DC),
appeared to be an excellent choice in spite of the inadequacy of the
† At present with Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ.
* The literature contains many definitions of library classification. For purposes of this
paper, it is felt that this introductory definition will suffice.
208
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